Adjectives

An adjective is a word used to describe a noun or pronoun or to give a noun or pronoun a more specific meaning. Like nouns, adjectives can be proper or compound - that is, they can be made up of more than one word. Proper adjectives are formed from proper nouns and always begin with a capital letter. A pronoun is used as an adjective if it modifies a noun. The chart below summarizes the kinds of pronouns used as adjectives and their use.

Exercise 1: Adding Pronouns used as Adjectives

Fill in each set of parenthesis with the kind of adjective given in parenthesis.
Example: I know () people sitting in the corner. demonstrative
1. () students were still taking the test. indefinite
2. () question do you want me to answer? interrogative
3. Is this () coat or yours? possessive
4. There are () books I want to read. indefinite
5. Jill and Vincent brought () new puppy to my house. possessive
6. () term paper is due next week. possessive
7. () hat is on the table. interrogative
8. This article is more interesting than () one. demonstrative
9. May I have () piece of pie? indefinite
10. Are () records yours or mine? demonstrative

Exercise 2: Using Proper Adjectives in Sentences.

In the space provided, write a sentence using each word below as an adjective.
Example: Parisian > Mrs. Townson wore a Parisian gown.

Exercise 3: Identifying Adjectives

Write all the adjectives that modify each underlined noun or pronoun in the following paragraph.
Example: Collections of great art treasures have been preserved in many places around the world. (great, art)

Dresden, an East German (1) city, houses some of the greatest art (2) treasures in the world. From the sixteenth (3) century to the eighteenth century, the Saxon (4) electors collected art from the four (5) corners of the globe and brought them to this (6) location. Though the Saxon (7) reign was short-lived, the treasures have not been; most (8) pieces even survived the Allied (9) bombing during World War II. Today the public can view delicate Oriental (10 porcelain and sensitive, moving (11) paintings of great (12) artists. The Green Vault holds precious (13) metals and jewels, the work of the best European (14) artisans. One display contains shining diamond boot (15) buckles and jeweled shirt (16) buttons. To estimate the (17) value of these (18) treasures would prove virtually impossible; (19) many are priceless. For example, at one auction, eight Meissen china (20) pieces sold for $313,720.
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